Play control device for games



0, 1961 P. P. cusANo ETAL 2,986,397

PLAY CONTROL DEVICE FOR GAMES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24. 1959 h),NVENTOR':;

PAUL Cu sxwa A E(/ ENExDAOQ/S ATTO RN EY y 1961 P. P. cusANo ETAL2,986,397

PLAY CONTROL DEVICE FOR GAMES Filed April 24. 1959 km m w m NAA R 3 WW m1 S mcv T m M A h A m Psm 6 U E United States Patent PLAY CONTROL DEVICEFOR GAlVlES Paul P. Cusano, Hasbrouck Heights, and Eugene V. Daddis,Pequannock, N.J., assignors to American Shuflieboard Company, UnionCity, NJ., a limited partnership of New Jersey Filed Apr. 24, 1959, Ser.No. 808,785

8 Claims. (Cl. 273-126) This invention relates to a control device forgames played by movement of metallic game pieces along the playingsurface of a gameboard for scoring determined according to the skill ofthe player in moving the game piece into a scoring location. The gamepiece moves into the scoring area according to the force and directionimparted to the game piece by the player. Pursuant to this inventionmeans are provided for setting up a magnetic field across the playingsurface of the gameboard as a barrier against playing such that as thegame piece moves through said field and under the magnetic influencethere of it will be thereby retarded and deflected from its normal freecourse of movement in order to then prevent further normal use of orplay on the device. The magnetic means are disposed, pursuant to theinvention, away from the playing surface so that normal movement of thegame piece may be attained, for a predetermined time, during continuanceof a predetermined condition. They are automatically disposed so as toexert magnetic interference with the game pieces (susceptible tomagnetic attraction), on occurrence of a different condition; they aremoved away again so as not to interfere with normal movement of the gamepieces, on termination of such different conditions.

Thus, for example, initially the magnet may be moved, pursuant to theinvention, away from the playing surface on the players depositing acoin. Then, after a lapse of time, or on attainment of a predeterminedscore, or on occurrence of some other condition, the magnet is movedinto interfering relation by being automatically brought close to theplaying surface. On occurrence of a different condition, such as depositof another coin, the magnet is moved away from the playing surface. Theforegoing and following description of conditions responsive to whichthe magnet is moved close to and away from the playing surface, and thespecific switch, magnet and other means herein described, will enablethose skilled in this art to practice the invention; in carrying out theinvention other forms may be used, as will become apparent from thedisclosure herein; such other forms, coming within the purview of theclaims shall be deemed to be within the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view, taken at line 1-1of Fig. 4, of a play control device embodying the invention, shownapplied to a game board,

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational, partly fragmentary view thereof,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken at line 4-4 ofFig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing a movable means which may be used incarrying out the invention, said means being shown in full lines in anintermediate position and in dotted lines after being moved to a finalposition.

As shown in the drawings, the invention is designed to control movementof a metallic member, of or includ- Patented May 30, 1961 ing a materialsusceptible to magnetic attraction, such as, for example, ashufiie-board puck 10 (Fig. 1) along the upper surface 11 of anelongated playboard 12. The invention is adapted for use in connectionwith games of any type wherein scoring is determined according to theskill of the player in moving a metallic game piece such as 10 along theupper surface 11 of, and toward a scoring area 13 of, an elongatedplayboard 12. The game piece 10 conventionally freely moves in adirection and for a distance determined by the skill of the player.

Pursuant to the invention, means are provided for deflecting the gamepiece from the path it would normally take. Said means are movable,pursuant to the invention, to two positions: In one position they exertan interfering action as above mentioned; in a second position they donot interfere.

The play control device comprises one or more magnets 14 (Figs. 1 and 4)secured to a rod 15 reciprocably disposed in a bearing 16, the latterbeing juxtaposed in the device spaced from the undersurface 17 of theplay board 12 as, for example, by forming the bearing 16 unitarily withbrackets 18 which in turn are secured to the undersurface of the playboard as at 19 (Fig. l). The magnets may be secured to the rod 15directly or through a beam 20 or the like (Fig. 4). The rod 15 isconnected as by linking means 21, 22 (Fig. 5) to a means for actuatingsaid means and thereby the rod 15 (and magnets 14) also selectively totwo positions. Said means may comprise the armature shaft 23 of a motor24 in an arrangement such that on the rotation of the crank 22 for 180the rod 15 will be moved to one position, for example, that shown infull lines in Fig. 4 for disposing the magnet 14 close to playing uppersurface 11 of the game board 12 to exert effective magnetic attractionfor game pieces 10 and interfering with the free normal movement thereofand, on movement of said link 22 another l will move the rod '15 andmagnet 14 to the second position (shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and4) at which the magnet '14 is movedaway from the upper surface 11 of theplayboard so as not to exert an appreciable magnetic attraction on agame piece 10.

In carrying out the invention as set forth above, suitable switch meansmay be provided for actuating the magnet reciprocating means selectivelyto the positions mentioned; said switch means may in turn be controlledby certain predictable conditions. For example, the motor may beenergized to move the magnet away from the upper surface of theplayboard when the player deposits a coin initially. To that end, a coincontrolled switch (schematically indicated in Fig. 4 by the referencecharacter 30) may be provided for closing the circuit through the cable31 connected to the contact arm 32 which closes on the contact 33connected by cable 34 with the contact arm 35 connected by cable 36 tothe means for reciprocating the rod 15, such as the motor 24.

Thus, on deposit of a coin in the device 3% (which might be convenientlylocated at the players end of the board 12) current will flow throughthe motor 24 so as to reciprocate the rod 15 for from the full line Fig.4 position to the dotted line position, correspondingly moving themagnet 14 away from the upper surface 11 of the playboard so as not tointerfere with the free movement of the game pieces 10. Upon theoccurrence of a second condition, such as, for example, upon the playersachieving a predetermined score (which might be displayed on ascoreboard or recorder 44 (Figs. 2 and 3)) or on the passage of time asreflected in a timing device 38 (which may in turn have been initiallyactuated on deposit of the coin) current will flow through the cable 39from units 38 or 44 to the contact 40 with which the contact 41 willthen be in engagement (the beam 20 which separates contacts 40 and 41when in the raisedFig. 4-position being in the dotted line position,contacts 40, 41 will be closed-their operating normal position). Thus,current will flow through the cable 42 to the motor 24, energizing saidmotor, to reciprocate the rod 15 to the full line position shown in Fig.4, whereupon the beam 20 will separate the contacts 40 and 41 andthe-motor will The specific switch and automatic actuating means abovedescribed are exemplary of other devices which will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from a consideration of the foregoingdescription; such other devices shall be deemed within the scope andpurview of the present invention. The playboard 12 may be provided withrecesses '43 extending inwardly of the undersurface 17 thereof (Figs. 1and 4) if desired to receive the magnets and enable them to moveclosetothe playing surface 11 to enhance their magnetic deflecting action interminating use of the'board to prevent free play.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a game having a playing surface for scoring, and in combination atimer, a control device comprising a magnet means disposed below theplaying surface for deflecting a metallic game piece along the playingsurface, toward a scoring area being of a material susceptible tomagnetic attraction, means for conditioning the game for play includingstarting of the timer, means for disposing said magnetic means away fromsaid playing surface so as not to exert any appreciable magneticattraction on the metallic member, means responsive to detecting a scoreupon the scoring surface and means responsive to either the timer or toa predetermined score for disposing said magnet means toward the playingsurface whereby said magnet means will exert a magnetic attraction onthe metallic member eflective to deflect it from its normal course offree movement toward the scoring area to thereby terminate the game.

2. In a control device for a game as set forth in claim 1, said playingsurface comprising an elongated play board provided with a recess toreceive said magnet and to thus dispose the same close to the playingsurface of said play board on said movement of said magnet toward thesurface.

3. In a play control device for a game as set forth in claim 1, saidplaying surface comprising one face of an elongated play board, thelatter being provided with a recess on the surface thereof opposite saidone face, said recess receiving said magnet and extending to a pointclose to said one surface, to allow the magnet to thus exert a magneticattraction on the metallic game piece effective to deflect it from itsnormal course of free movement.

4. In a play control device for a game as set forth in claim 1, saidmeans for so disposing the magnet including a bearing secured to thedevice beneath the playing surface and a rod secured to the magnet,movably arranged in said bearing for movement toward and away from theplaying surface, and means to move said rod selectively toward and awayfrom the playing surface responsive to the selective occurrence ofpredetermined conditions.

5. In a play control device for a game as set forth in claim 1, saidmeans to move the rod comprising link means connected to said rod, andmeans responsive to the occurrence of said conditions to move said linkmeans, and to so move said rod.

6. In a play control device for a game as set forth in claim 1, saidplaying surface comprising an elongated play board provided with arecess transverse to the longitudinal axis, disposed on the underfacethereof, and extended to a point close to the upper face of the playboard, to receive said magnet.

7. A control device for use with a game having a playing surface and atimer played by posing a metallic member of material susceptible tomagnetic attraction along a surface toward a scoring area according tothe direction and distance of movement of said metallic member pro--viding a barrier, said device comprising means for conditioning thegame for play including starting of the timer, magnet means disposedbelow said playing surface for deflecting a metallic member along theplaying surface, means for disposing said magnet means away frornsaidplaying surface so as not to exert any appreciable magnetic attractiononthe metallic member, means responsive to the timer for disposing saidmagnet means toward the playing surface whereby said magnet means willexert a magnetic attraction on the metallic member effective to deflectit from its normal course of free movement toward the scoring area tothereby terminate the game.

8. A control device for use with a game having a playing surfaceandplayed by passing a metallic member of material susceptible tomagnetic attraction along a surface toward a scoring area according tothe direction and distance of movement of said metallic member providinga barrier, said device comprising means for conditioning the game forplay, magnet means disposed below said playing surface for deflecting ametallic member along the playing surface, means for disposing saidmagnet means away from said playing surface so as not to exert anyappreciable magnetic attraction on the metallic member, means'responsiveto detecting a score upon the scoring surface and means responsive to apredetermined score for disposing said magnet means toward the playingsurface whereby said magnet means will exert a magnetic attraction onthe metallic member effective to deflect it from its normal course offree movement toward the scoring area to thereby terminate the game.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,585,153 Metz Feb. 12, 1952 2,775,457 Galbos Dec. 25, 1956 2,848,235Johns et al. Aug. 19, 1958 2,878,022 Koci Mar. 17, 1959

